Tigmd99

Linky: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do.../pageId=170942

What Works:
Responsive power; spacious, stylish interior; exceptional audio and navigation system.
What Needs Work:
Dispiriting dynamics; dispiriting exterior style.
Bottom Line:
Built for the American road

LuvMyTSX

Overall it's a positive review, which is great. However, all the comparisons to the US Accord get really annoying. IMO, it is not the most American of Acura's vehicles.

Sclass88

The new TSX has really grown on me. If I didn't love my 1G so much, I'd seriously give this car consideration. Right now, in its class, there isn't anything else that catches my eye... However, my '04 still brings a smile to face every time I drive it so I don't see myself getting out of it anytime soon.

LuvMyTSX

I still really like my 1G as well, but the 2G is calling me. I like the V6. What I want most is the newer features like Bluetooth, and next time I'd really like navi. Of course, the pic in the review is of the color combo I want. They're making it hard for me to hold onto my 04.

JD23

I agree about the review. It seems like the writer had the "Americanization" theme planned before even driving the car and was going to do everything possible to convince the reader that the TSX is the most American car made by Honda. IMO, this statement doesn't make sense, as the TSX V6 is just a Euro-Accord with a V6 squeezed in. The TL or US Accord, which are designed and manufactured in the US, have more American influence. Also, I still don't see why the TSX's styling is listed as a negative. I've seen the car in person multiple times, and the styling may be a little avant-garde, but it is certainly not extremely radical or ugly.

Tigmd99

x2...it is certainly the most beautiful design in the Acura lineup...by far!

ramossp

Also isn't the TSX the only Honda/Acura car 100% made in Japan? The 2009 was, but not sure about the 2010 V6?

Agree that it seems the author came up with the "American" theme (obstensibly because he sees the addition of a V6 model as an abandonment of the I4) and then tried to fit a car based on the Euro Accord (and built in Japan) into the theme.

All in all though it sounds like they enjoyed their time with the car.

cp3117

I think it depends on how you view his "Americanization" theme. I would agree with him as the 1G TSX was a small, nimble, high reving 4Cyl which is more of a "Honda Enthusiast" Japanese style car where the larger, heavier and more torque producing V6 is generally a trait the average North American prefers. I think this is where the editor was going with this rather than where it was built.

I agree with you on the TSX styling as IMO I think the 2G TSX is by far the best looking vehicle in the Acura lineup and the their new progressive look blends in nicer with the TSX than any other models.

I am happy Acura finally put a V6 in the TSX but I also agree with the writer that Acura seems to also be behind in current trends and once again this model is a few years to late. This was the car i was looking for in 2006 but unfortunately it isnt now.....Having said that I am sure they will sell alot of this version as long as the pricing is competitive.

One area in the review that surprised me was them preferring the V6 for handling over the 4Cyl. Every other initial review seems to say the opposite and that the Handling and braking seem to be its weaker points. Either way it seems like this V6 is going to be a great daily driver unfortunately its not going to compete up to Acura's standard and compete directly with cars like the BMW 335i etc. I know Acura is trying to force its model line up in the market place but this V6 version has a long way to go before it can me mentioned with models like the 335i etc.

mucter

They mention that the EPS has been re-calibrated. I wonder if they can re-calibrate the '09s to make them better. God knows this car's steering could use some help in the weight department. I think if they could fix that via a reflash or something, I'd be -completely- happy with my '09.

xmd5a

Edmunds reviews are often pretty bad, this is no exception. To say that a V6 over FWD makes its I4 counterpart feel "clumsy and uncertain" in comparison seems hard to believe. It might be true, but the reviewer doesn't at least pay respect to how counter intuitive this is. The American Car thing is out of nowhere, no mention of the car being completely built in Japan or that the euro Accord offer diesel. Half assed.

I also lose respect for reviewers who say that an older generation car looked better than a newer model because often times it's the case that they are just more familiar with the old model having looked at it on the road for five or six years. As time passes the older models look bland by comparison. I used to prefer the 1G TSX appearance to the 2G but after having seen both on the road for about a year the 1G looks like a bar of soap along with most cars designed around the same time. It has to be considered in the context of everything else around it. The 4G TL looks like a walrus now but in two years it might closely resemble a lot of what else is on the road.

23109VC

WHEN is this going to hit dealers?

I test drove the TSX and loved the feel/look but honestly, to me, the I4 is just gutless. yeah it revs, but it has no torque. once you drive a car with some torque, you can't go to a car w/out it. if i was going to track it or something, and could be at 7k all day long, i'd be okay, but daily driving, torque rules.

i test drove the new TL and while i liked the power, it was soft/spongy, and hoenstly, that car is just plain ugly. it's pretty inside, but i don't likehte outside.

i also test drove a G8. wow. now that's a nice car. fast, handles, and well made. it's not quite as nice inside as the Acura, but at 27k for a full loaded GT V8, it's major value. i'm thining of buying one and skipping th eAcura..

BUT, i would like to test drive this new V6 TSX. when when when will it hit dealers.

and what is the real price going to be. the article said 38k for the one they had. sorry, no oen is going to pay 38k for a frikin TSX... you could get a barely used 335 for that much... pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze...

maybe 32k...

Tigmd99

I think that the G8 GT is a great buy...RWD, fullsize sedan, and sporty too.

Mokos23

yeah the new TL is the most American because it is made in America

LuvMyTSX

I had read it was supposed to be a rolling release starting on the 16th, but not all dealers would have them right away. For some reason, Acura.com doesn't even have it available to build.

V6 non tech: $35k
V6 tech: $38k

Craig-D

Did you drive an auto or a manual TSX? I went to buy an auto but drove off with a manual instead for that reason. The manual has good torque and gets the most out of the 4 cyl engine.

The G8 is nice, but they won't be around much longer now that Pontiac is going bye-bye. Also I would think the unavailabilty of nav in that model is a dealbreaker for many

38k for any TSX is obscene and not close to worth it. $38k puts you into a lot of cars with 300+ hp. There would only be one sedan on my shopping list for that kind of money: the new 365 hp Ford Taurus SHO. After my TSX lease is up, that is my next car.

JD23

It sounds like the SHO will have a great engine, but the car is absolutely gigantic (203 in. long and 4400 lb.). At $38k, I think the TSX's natural competition is the A4 and the G37.

TMQ

TSX really needs a 6MT and SHAWD to go along with the V6. It's a shame that it hasn't really improved over the 1st generation, and now the steering has become an issue.

I also find it hard to believe that a simple feature like bluetooth would put someone in this car. But I guess the TSX now really caters to this type of crowd, putting distracting features like bluetooth over more important engineering traits.

Tigmd99

I doubt it...given that the handheld GPS has come a long way....

LuvMyTSX

I think it is important to remember that not everyone is a hardcore enthusiast. For some, reliability is still very important. I happen to fall into this category, and therefore am not interested in purchasing a German car unless I have enough money to have a second car.

jjsC5

I agree with you. I owned one of the original SHOs and really liked it. I had thoughts of the new one until I read that it's 203" long and will list for about $40,000 with typical equipment (the SHO version). I think that's as over priced as the V6 TSX, and they are obviously trying to keep the Crown Victoria customers with that car.

cyberbro

Good car but not with gas going up everyday!

Tigmd99

I think that it get 24 mpg on the highway due to cylinder deactivation technology...so, it ain't bad...on par with TL-SHAWD....

MMC Racing

The TSX with the V6 is priced too high. It puts it in direct competition with a G37 which I would take 10 out of 10 times.

Tigmd99

Agreed. The only thing that the TSX V6 has over the G37 with the same price is the NAVI/camera. The ELS stereo is both crappy in quality materials and sound quality is only OK. The BOSE SOW system is also OK only, but at least the speakers don't blow every few miles. I would gladly give up NAVI/camera for RWD, bigger engine, 7 speed auto, better steering, and just a higher performance envelope.

[R]isque'

$38k for that? Hell no!
You guys can get an Mitsubishi Evo X MR for $37k, Nismo 370Z for $39k.
WTF is going on???

TMQ

The way I see it, many Acura owners here don't keep the cars long enough for the reliability issue to make a difference. Most cars these days will run 7 years / 80K with no problem.

Also, a lot of the owners buy Acura because of all the standard tech features that one has to pay extra for in other brands. Acura caters to a lot of tech/gadget minded customers and hence offer the tech package. Most other brands offer luxury, sport, premium, prestige packages.

cp3117

While many people here on sites like this will disagree because most are enthusiasts, i have thought this as well for a long time.

Many of my friends, co-workers etc drive a wide variety of vehicles. I find though that all the people i know that own Acura's always love the tech items and generally will only focus on those items. The others that own BMW's, Audi's, Infinitis etc always want to hit the road and show off the performance the vehicle first.

A friend i play hockey with is all excited about trading in his 3G for a 4G and was telling me all about the Navi, HDD, Traffic/Weather etc. When i asked how he liked the performance, handling, etc.....it was like i was talking a foreign language to him and he didnt really care.

Weather it has a V6 or an I4 it doesnt really matter IMHO as i think it will sell well as long as they always have the Tech items.

CGP CL9

new tl would have to much competition if the tsx came in sh-awd. so i dont think acura would ever do that, unless they discontinued the tl.

Crissaegrim

I wouldn't buy a TL for performance reasons either. I have test driven and taken a 3G as a loaner. Straight line performance at best, although torque steer will make that straight line a wavy one. It's just too big.

TMQ

I think most would agree that for performance, TSX is the perfect size for Acura to make it THE sports sedan of the lineup. So the recipe with 6MT and SHAWD would be natural.

It's really no big deal that TL and TSX overlap somewhat in their customer base in terms of performance, size and features/content. (Other makers do this all the time.) I think Acura just needs to make the TL more luxurious and comfortable; offer optional wood trim, add features like heated rear seat, and the TL should replace the RL.

jnc2000

People looking to buy a TSX often don't cross shop a between cars you mention...

You buy a TSX for refinement. You buy the cars you listed for speed.

jjsC5

Yeah, I thought the same thing about the TL. Why would they do that when the already have a RL with the same powertrain? But they did. Acura's secret is to jack up the price of the model above it.

So now we have a $53,000 RL that does no more than a $43,000 TL, and we are about to have a $39,000 TSX. All I can say is that Acura ran me off.

5o9

I like this quote from Edmunds:

"It's a nice car, and it comes from the Acura division's urgent need to expand its American audience, as its Euro-theme cars like the previous-generation TSX have been greeted with deafening indifference."

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

+1.